Operating means for electric switches



June 26, 1956 w, SEEGER 2,752,464

OPERATING MEANS FOR ELECTRIC SWITCHES Filed Aug. 3. 1953 I5 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 26, 1956 E. w. SEEGER, 2,752,464

OPERATING MEANS FOR ELECTRIC SWITCHES Filed Aug. 3, 1953 3 Sheets-$heet 2 l8 la June 26, 1956 w SEEGER OPERATING MEANS FOR ELECTRIC SWITCHES 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 3, 1955 III/III III [III 111/1 III/I [III/III United States Patent O OPERATING MEANS ron ELECTRIC SWITCHES Edwin W. Seeger, Wauwatosa, Wis., assignor to Cutler- Hamrner, Inc., Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of Dela- Ware Application August 3, 1953, Serial No. 371,782

8 Claims. (Cl. 200-172) This invention relates to operating means for enclosed electric switches, and more particularly to resilient interconnections between a cover-mounted operating handle and the switch actuating lever.

Enclosed electric switches are frequently provided with operating handles mounted on an openable door. In such cases it is necessary to provide interconnecting means between the handle and the switch; which interconnecting means must permit opening of the enclosure cover for purposes of inspection and repair. Generally such interconnecting means effect disconnection of the handle and the switch when the door is opened thus providing for manipulation of the operating handle without corresponding actuation of the switch. A problem then arises of providing for reclosure of the cover without causing damage to any of the switch parts due to possible misalinement of the various actuating members.

A primary object of this invention is to provide improved switch operating means whereby the enclosure cover can be closed while the handle and switch are misalined, and whereby such closure will not damage any of the switch parts.

Another object is to permit realinement of said interconnecting means and said switch actuating means by movement of the operating handle following closure of the cover while the misalinement prevails.

Another object is to provide interconnecting means between the handle and the switch, which means is simple in construction and inexpensive to manufacture.

A specific object is to provide switch operating means of the class described formed of spring wire to yieldingly permit closure of the cover during misalinement of the various operating members without coincidental damage to any of the switch parts.

A more specific object is to provide a simple interconnecting means which permits closure of the enclosure cover while the operating handle and switch actuating members are misalined; and which interconnecting means is susceptible of adjustment to permit variation in the relative position of the interconnecting means and the switch actuating members to thereby compensate for errors and inaccuracies in mounting the switch within the enclosure .or in mounting the operating handle on the enclosure .cover.

A still more specific object is to provide switch operating means of the class described wherein the spring wire interconnecting means cooperates with members fastened to the enclosure to provide cover interlock means.

The novel features which I consider characteristic of my invention are set forth with particularity in the ap pended claims. The device itself, however, both as to its organization and mode of operation together with additional objects and advantages thereof will best be understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings in which; 7

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of one embodiment Patented June 26, 1956 of my invention having part of the enclosure cut away to expose the switch actuating components;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view, substantially on the line 22 of Fig; 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view of a cover interlocking arrangement which may be combined with the form of device shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of a modified form of my invention, having part of the enclosure cut away to expose the switch actuating components;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view, on the broken line 5-5 of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6 is a side elevational view of a further modification, a part of the enclosure being cut away to expose the switch actuating components.

Like reference characters indicate corresponding parts in the various figures of the drawings.

Referring to Fig. 1, it shows an enclosure 10 having a cover 12. Said cover 12 is attached to enclosure 10 by any suitable means (not shown), such as hinges or thumb screws, to permit removal or opening of said cover for purposes of inspection and for repair of the various parts positioned within said enclosure 10. Mounted within said enclosure is an electric switch 14 having toggle operating means 16.

Attached to cover 12 is an operating handle 18. Said handle 18 is formed with a cylindrical portion 18 for pivotal mounting of the handle 18 within a suitable opening 12 formed in cover 12. Said handle 18 is also formed with an annular shoulder 18 to maintain said operating handle in assembled position with respect to cover 12, upon complete attachment of the handle parts, as shown in Fig. 1. Attached to said cylindrical portion 18 as by means of bolts 20, is a cylindrical spacer member 22, which, preferably of greater diameter than shoulder 18 assists in maintaining handle 18 in the assembled position shown in Fig. 1.

Member 22 is formed with an opening or recess 22 (Fig. 1) for accommodating the straight end portion 24 of a spring wire interconnecting member 24. Said opening 22 is positioned in member 22 to provide for approximately rectilinear movement of interconnecting member 24 in response to rotary or pivotal movement of handle 18 (Fig. 2). A clip 26 is attached to member 22 by any suitable means, such as by welding, to thus maintain end 24 of member 24 within opening 22 of member 22. Said clip 26 also provides a stop for handle 18 due to engagement of clip 26 with interconnecting member 24-.

The other end 24 of member 24 is received in an opening 28 (Fig. 1) in bracket 28; said bracket 28 being fastened to cover 12 by any suitable means such as by welding.

Said interconnecting member 24 is formed with an offset 24 for cooperatively accommodating the free end of toggle lever 16 of a switch 14. Thus pivotal movement of handle 18 provides for approximately rectilinear movement of interconnecting member 24, and the latter member, when in engagement with toggle lever 16 by means of offset 24, effects operation of switch 14. Moreover, due to the resilience of interconnecting member 24, cover 12 can be closed even though offset 24 and toggle lever 16 are not properly alined for interconnection thereof, thus causing said interconnecting member 24 to yieldingly assume the dotted line position shown in Fig. 1.

Said member 24 is formed with an angle portion 24 (Fig. 2) the angle of which may be changed as desired to alter the relative position of offset 24 with respect to toggle lever 16. It is believed apparent that such adjustability can be utilizedto compensate for errors and inaccuracies in mounting the various components on the enclosure so that operating handle 18 will be in its ofi position when offset 24 engages lever 16 in the latters olf position.

In the modification shown in Fig. 3 the end 24 of interconnecting member 24 may be projected into an opening 30 in a bracket 39 attached to the enclosure 16 by any suitable means, such as by welding. It is thus apparent that cover 12 cannot be opened or removed from enclosure unless the interconnecting member 24 and toggle lever 16 are each in a predetermined position, thus providing a cover interlock.

Referring to Fig. 4, it shows a switch 40 having a plunger actuating member 42 which is operated by pivotal movement of cam member 44 about its fixed point of pivotal support 44 Said switch 40 is rigidly attached to enclosure 10.

Cam member 44 is formed with a peripheral notch or cutout 44 for receiving the ofisetting portion 46 of interconnecting member 46. Said member 46 is connected with spacer 22, and with respect to cover 12 by means of bracket 28, as aforedescribed with respect to the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Figs. 4 and 5 also show use of bracket 30 to provide a cover interlock as described in connection with Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

Thus, as handle 18 in Fig. 4 is moved pivotally, the substantially rectilinear movement of interconnecting member 46 provides for pivotal movement of cam member 44 and switch actuating movement of plunger 42. Also, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 4, the interconnecting member 46 yieldingly permits closure of cover 12 even though ofiset 46 is not properly alined for interconnection thereof with cutout 44 of cam member 44.

In Fig. 6 I have shown an electric switch 40 having an actuating plunger 42 which is actuated by pivotal movement of cam member 60. Said cam member 60 is formed with a pair of spring wire interconnecting members 62. Said interconnecting members 62 are attached to cam member 60 in any suitable manner, such as by welding, as shown in Fig. 6.

The embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 6 comprises a rigid connecting member 64 formed with an integral projection 64 for engagement within the notch or opening provided by the inwardly bent free ends of spring wire interconnecting members 62, 62. Said connecting member 64 is attached to spacer 22 and is held in spaced relation with respect to cover 12 in substantially the same manner as aforedescribed with respect to interconnecting member 24 of Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 6 also shows the bracket 30 of Figs. 3, 4 and 5, which cooperates with the reduced end portion 64 of connecting member 64 to provide a cover interlock.

It is apparent that upon closure of cover 12 without proper alinement of projection 64 of connecting member 64 with the opening provided by the free ends of interconnecting members 62 yielding movement of one or the other of spring wire interconnecting members 62 will be afforded, to thus avoid damaging the switch parts.

Also it will be apparent with respect to the abovedescribed embodiments that realinement of the switch actuating members can be etfected by merely moving handle 18 until the resilient member restores the necessary engagement.

Although I have shown and described certain specific embodiments of my invention, I am aware that many modifications thereof are possible. My invention is not to be restricted except insofar as is necessitated by the prior art and by the spirit of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In combination, a cabinet having an openable cover, a switch mounted within said cabinet, switch operating means mounted within said cabinet and comprising a cam member, an operating handle for said switch mounted on said cabinetv and comprising an element inside said cover operable from outside said cover, and a spring wire interconnection for said, handle element and said cam member which frees said handle element and said cam member one from the other upon opening of said cabinet cover and which again interconnects said handle element and said cam member upon reclosing of said cover assuming a given relationship therebetween, the spring wire of said interconnection being attached to said cam to be effectively restrained against any wire-twisting forces met with but to be free for flexing thus to permit closing of said cover even though said handle element and said cam member are not properly alined for interconnection, renewed interconnection being then obtainable by wire reaction when said given relationship of said handle element and said cam member is restored.

2. In combination, a cabinet having an openable cover, a switch mounted within said cabinet, switch operating means mounted within said cabinet and comprising a cam member, an operating handle for said switch mounted on said cabinet and comprising an element inside said cover operable from outside said cover, and a single spring wire connected to said handle element and formed with an oifset for engagement with a cutout in said cam member, said ofiset being disengaged from said cutout upon opening of said cabinet cover and re-engaged therewith upon reclosing of said cover assuming a given relationship of said offset and said cutout, connection of said spring wire to said handle element restraining said Wire against any wire-twisting forces met with but permitting flexing thus to permit closing of said cover even though said offset and said cutout are not alined for engagement, renewed engagement being then obtainable by wire reaction when said relationship between said offset and said cutout is restored.

3. In combination, a cabinet having an openable cover, a switch mounted within said cabinet, switch operating means mounted within said cabinet and comprising a cam member, an operating handle for said switch mounted on said cabinet and comprising an element inside said cover operable from outside said cover, a single spring wire connected to said handle element and formed with an ofiset for engagement with a cutout in said cam member, said offset being disengaged from said cutout upon opening of said cabinet cover and re-cngaged therewith upcn reclosing of said cover assuming a given relationship of said olfset and said cutout, connection of said spring wire to said handle element restraining said wire against any wire-twisting forces met with but permitting flexing thus to permit closing of said cover even though said offset and said cutout are not alined for engagement, renewed engagement being then obtainable by wire reaction when said relationship between said offset and said cutout is restored, and a cover interlock comprising a bracket attached to a side wall of said cabinet and formed with an opening to receive a portion of said spring wire thus to prevent opening of said cover while said handle is in a given operating position.

4. In combination, a cabinet having an openable cover, a switch mounted within said cabinet, switch operating means mounted within said cabinet and comprising a cam member, an operating handle for said switch mounted on said cabinet and comprising an element inside of said cover operable from outside of said cover, a spring wire interconnection for said handle element and said cam member which frees said handle element and said cam member one from the other upon opening of said cabinet cover and which again interconnects said handle element and said cam member upon reclosing of said cover assuming a given relationship therebetween, the spring wire of said interconnection being attached to said cam member to be elfectively restrained against any wiretwisting forces met with but to be free for flexing thus to permit closing of said cover even though said handle element and said cam member are not properly alined, renewed interconnection being then obtainable by wire reaction when said given relationship of said handle element and said cam member is restored, and a cover interlock comprising a bracket attached to a side wall of said cabinet and fori led with an opening to receive a portion of said handle element thus to prevent opening of said cover while said handle is in a given operating position.

5. In combination, a switch with an operating element mounted within said cabinet, an operating handle for said switch mounted on said cabinet and comprising an element inside said cover operable from outside of said cover, a single spring wire connected to said handle element and formed with an oifset for engagement with said switch element to disengage from said switch element upon opening of said cabinet cover and to re-engage said switch element upon reelosing of said cover assuming a given relationship between said oliset and said switch element, said spring wire being connected at one end thereof to said handle element to be movable therewith and to be restrained against any wire-twisting forces met with but to be free for flexing thus to permit closing of said cover even though said ofiset and said switch element are not alined for engagement, renewed engagement being then obtainable by wire reaction when said given relationship is restored, and a cover interlock consisting of a bracket attached to a side wall of said cabinet and formed with an opening to receive the other end of said spring wire thus to prevent opening of said cover while said handle is in a position to efiect closure of said switch.

6. In an enclosed electric switch, in combination, a switch cabinet having an openable cover, a switch operating handle movably mounted on said cover, an electric switch mounted within said cabinet and having switch operating means, a spring interconnection comprising a single spring wire formed with at least one shoulder for normally cooperating with said handle and said switch operating means to transmit motion therebetween, and supporting means adjacent opposite ends of said wire to maintain said shoulder in operative alinement with its associated parts.

7. In an enclosed electric switch, in combination, a

switch cabinet having an openable cover, a switch operating handle movably mounted on said cover, an electric switch mounted within said cabinet and having switch operating means, a spring interconnection comprising a single spring wire connected to said handle and formed with an offset providing shoulders for alternate engagement with said switch operating means, and spaced fastening and supporting means for said wire to normally maintain the shoulders of said otfset in engageable alinement with said switch operating means.

8. In combination, a cabinet having an openable cover, a switch mounted within said cabinet, switch operating means mounted within said cabinet and comprising a movable member, an operating handle for said switch mounted on said cabinet and comprising an element inside said cover operable from outside of said cover, and a single spring wire interconnection for said handle element and said movable member which frees said handle element and said movable member one from the other upon opening of said cabinet cover and which again interconnects said handle element and said movable member upon reclosing of said cover assuming a given relationship therebetween, the single spring wire of said interconnection being so arranged with respect to said movable member as to be elfeetively restrained against any wire-twisting forces met with but to be free for flexing thus to permit closing of said cover even though said handle element and said movable member are not properly alined for interconnection, renewed interconnection being then obtainable by wire reaction when said given relationship of said handle element and said movable member is restored.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

